Colmar Tropicale

Colmar Tropicale opened in 2000 at Bukit Tinggi, about eight hundred metres up in the hills off the Karak highway, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a reproduction of a French Alsatian village modelled on Colmar, with half-timbered facades, a clock tower, a gate with a drawbridge and moat, cobbled squares, a fountain and a hotel occupying the buildings. The altitude keeps it cooler than the lowlands, which is part of the appeal. On the same estate are a Japanese village and tea garden, a botanical garden, a rabbit park and a horse ranch, each charging separately. It makes no claim to authenticity and is enjoyed or dismissed accordingly; families and photographers make up most of the visitors, and weekends and holidays are busy.

What you actually see

• A replica Alsatian village - half-timbering, clock tower, drawbridge and moat.
• A hillside at 800 metres - noticeably cooler than the plain below.
• A Japanese village and tea garden - on the same estate, charged separately.
• A rabbit park and horse ranch - the family attractions around the resort.

When to go

All year; weekdays for space. Half a day.

Honest expectations

It is a built replica and does not pretend otherwise. Everything on the estate is a separate ticket and the total adds up. Cloud and rain close in often. Weekends are crowded.

Nearby

Genting Highlands is on the ridge; Bentong and Janda Baik are close.